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| United States Patent |
5,669,657
|
|
Miyazawa
|
September 23, 1997
|
Sunroof assembly for motor vehicle
Abstract
A sunroof assembly comprises a transparent member having first and second
peripheral edge portions. A first supporting member is connected to the
first peripheral edge portion of the transparent member. The first
supporting member has a first ridge portion defining a supporting edge
disposed on the first peripheral edge portion of the transparent member, a
second ridge portion, and a groove disposed between the first and second
ridge portions. A second supporting member is connected to the second
peripheral edge portion of the transparent member. The second supporting
member has a recessed portion, a first flange portion extending generally
perpendicular to the recessed portion, and a second flange portion
disposed in the groove of the first supporting member and extending
generally perpendicular to the first flange portion.
| Inventors:
|
Miyazawa; Kiyotaka (Atsugi, JP)
|
| Assignee:
|
Hori Glass Co., Ltd. (JP)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
571116 |
| Filed:
|
December 12, 1995 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Dec 13, 1994[JP] | 6-332732 |
| Dec 13, 1994[JP] | 6-332733 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
296/216.06; 49/490.1 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B60J 007/00 |
| Field of Search: |
296/216
49/490.1,492.1,501
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4765677 | Aug., 1988 | Nagata | 49/490.
|
| 4775570 | Oct., 1988 | Ohlenforst et al. | 49/490.
|
| 5042873 | Aug., 1991 | Yagami | 296/216.
|
| 5170587 | Dec., 1992 | Nakatani et al. | 296/216.
|
| 5466508 | Nov., 1995 | Brocke et al. | 296/216.
|
| 5524955 | Jun., 1996 | Brocke et al. | 296/216.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 128022 | Jul., 1985 | JP | 296/216.
|
| 6-16628 | Jun., 1994 | JP.
| |
| 556962 | May., 1977 | SU | 49/490.
|
Primary Examiner: Pedder; Dennis H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Adams & Wilks
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sunroof assembly for motor vehicles, comprising: a sunroof glass; a
retainer disposed below a surface of the sunroof glass, the retainer
having a recess part defined by a pair of sidewall portions and a base
portion, a stopper part extending generally perpendicular to the base
portion of the recess part, a generally horizontal holder part extending
from an upper end of the stopper part, and projections provided on the
holder part with a prescribed interval between the projections; a bonding
agent disposed in the recess part of the retainer; and a weather strip for
connection to the retainer, the weather strip having a stopper surface for
abutment with the stopper part of the retainer, a holder groove for
receiving the holder part, an anchor groove formed in the holder groove
for engagement with the projections of the holder part of the retainer,
and a lip part for supporting the sunroof glass; wherein the sunroof glass
is disposed on the retainer with the bonding agent disposed in the recess
part of the retainer, the holder part of the retainer is inserted into the
holder groove while the sunroof glass is supported by the lip part of the
retainer, the stopper surface is abutted on the stopper part, and the
anchor groove is engaged with the projections to thereby integrally
connect the sunroof glass, the retainer, and the weather strip together.
2. A sunroof assembly for motor vehicles, comprising: a sunroof glass; a
retainer disposed below a surface of the sunroof glass, the retainer
having a recess part defined by a pair of side portions and a base
portion, a generally horizontal raised part disposed outside of the recess
part, and a generally vertical flange part provided outside of the raised
part; a bonding agent disposed in the recessed part of the retainer; and a
weather strip for connection to the retainer, the weather strip having a
positioning bottom surface for abutment with the raise part of the
retainer, a flange groove for receiving the flange part, and a lip part
for supporting the sunroof glass; wherein the recess part of the retainer
is provided with the bonding agent, the sunroof glass is disposed on the
retainer the, raised part is provided the bonding agent, and the bottom
surface of the weather strip is abutted and bonded to the raised part of
the retainer to thereby integrally connect the sunroof glass, the
retainer, and the weather strip together.
3. A sunroof assembly according to claim 1; wherein the holder part of the
retainer extends generally perpendicular to the stopper part of the
retainer.
4. A sunroof assembly according to claim 2; wherein the raised part of the
retainer has a base portion, and the flange part extends generally
perpendicular to said base portion.
5. A sunroof assembly comprising:
a transparent member having first and second peripheral edge portions;
a first supporting member connected to the first peripheral edge portion of
the transparent member, the first supporting member having a first ridge
portion defining a supporting edge disposed on the first peripheral edge
portion, a second ridge portion, and a groove disposed between the first
and second ridge portions; and
a second supporting member connected to the second peripheral edge portion
of the transparent member, the second supporting member having a recessed
portion, a first flange portion extending generally perpendicular to the
recessed portion, and a second flange portion disposed in the groove of
the first supporting member and extending generally perpendicular to the
first flange portion.
6. A sunroof assembly according to claim 5; further comprising means for
anchoring the second flange portion of the second supporting member in the
groove of the first supporting member.
7. A sunroof assembly according to claim 6; wherein the anchoring means
comprises at least one projection disposed on the second flange portion of
the second supporting member, and a notch disposed in the groove of the
first supporting member for receiving the projection.
8. A sunroof assembly according to claim 6; wherein the anchoring means
comprises a plurality of projections disposed on the second flange portion
of the second supporting member and spaced at preselected intervals, and a
notch disposed in the groove of the first supporting member for receiving
the projections.
9. A sunroof assembly according to claim 5; further comprising an adhesive
agent disposed in the recessed portion of the second supporting member for
securing the transparent member to the second supporting member.
10. A sunroof assembly according to claim 5; wherein the first flange
portion of the second supporting member is in abutment with the second
ridge portion of the first supporting member.
11. A sunroof assembly according to claim 5; wherein the recessed portion
of the second supporting member comprises a pair of sidewalls and a base
disposed between the sidewalls; and wherein the first flange portion of
the second supporting member extends generally perpendicular to the base
of the recessed portion of the first supporting member.
12. A sunroof assembly according to claim 5; further comprising means for
anchoring the second flange portion of the second supporting member in the
groove of the first supporting member, and an adhesive agent disposed in
the recessed portion of the second supporting member for securing the
transparent member to the second supporting member;
wherein the first flange portion of the second supporting member is in
abutment with the second ridge portion of the first supporting member.
13. A sunroof assembly comprising:
a transparent member having first and second peripheral edge portions;
a first supporting member connected to the first peripheral edge portion of
the transparent member, the first supporting member having a supporting
portion disposed on the first peripheral edge portion of the transparent
member, a first ridge portion extending from the supporting portion, a
second ridge portion extending from the supporting portion, and a groove
disposed between the first and second ridge portions; and
a second supporting member connected to the second peripheral edge portion
of the transparent member, the second supporting member having a raised
portion in abutment with the first ridge portion of the first supporting
member and having a flange portion disposed in the groove of the first
supporting member.
14. A sunroof assembly according to claim 13;
wherein the flange portion of the second supporting member extends
generally perpendicular to the raised portion of the second supporting
member.
15. A sunroof assembly according to claim 13;
wherein the second supporting member has a recessed portion; and further
comprising an adhesive agent disposed in the recessed portion of the
second supporting member for securing the transparent member to the second
supporting member.
16. A sunroof assembly according to claim 15;
wherein the recessed portion of the second supporting member has a pair of
sidewalls and a base disposed between the sidewalls; and wherein the
flange portion of the second supporting member extends generally
perpendicular to the base of the recessed portion of the second supporting
member.
17. A sunroof assembly according to claim 15;
wherein the raised portion of the second supporting member is disposed
between the flange portion and the recessed portion of the second
supporting member.
18. A sunroof assembly according to claim 13;
wherein the second supporting member comprises a cavity disposed between
the raised portion and the flange portion of the second supporting member;
and further comprising an adhesive agent disposed in the cavity of the
second supporting member.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to sunroof assemblies for motor vehicles.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a sunroof assembly for
motor vehicles with improvements in attachment to a retainer, a
weatherstrip, and a holder.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A sunroof assembly for motor vehicles that can hold a holder and a retainer
in a prescribed positional relation is disclosed in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open Publication No. 6-166328 assigned to the same
assignee as that of the present application. Referring to FIG. 4, the
sunroof assembly for motor vehicles in the Japanese Patent Application
comprises a sunroof glass 41 made of a transparent member, a generally
T-shaped holder 44 arranged on the surface of the outer edge of the
sunroof glass 41, a holder fixing part 49 having an opening part 48 into
which a center projection 47 of the generally T-shaped holder 44 can be
inserted, a retainer 42 arranged on the undersurface of the outer edge of
the window part, a joint area 50 for the retainer 42 that is formed by
making the back surface of the holder fixing part 49 generally flat, a
positioning abutment part 52 in contact with the inside of a flange 51
provided at one end of the retainer 42, and a stopper 43 positioned
between the holder 44 and the retainer 42, the stopper 43 having a lower
bulge part 46 of the retainer 42 and a spacer part 53 for keeping a
certain space for the position of the surface direction of the sunroof
glass 41, and the lower bulge part 46 and the spacer part 53 being paired.
In this sunroof assembly for motor vehicles, since the holder 44 and the
retainer 42 can be held in a prescribed positional relation by adding the
stopper 43, the position of the holder 44 can be prevented from being
displaced during or after assembly of the sunroof assembly, and the
possibility that the weather strip 45 may come out accidentally can be
prevented.
However, in the foregoing sunroof assembly method for motor vehicles, the
sunroof glass 41 and the rigid resin holder 44 are placed on the retainer
42 from above, the weather strip 45 is inserted into the flange part of
the holder 44 and the retainer 42, and thereafter the holder 44 and the
retainer 42 are fixed by a jig. In this case, if some failure or damage
occurs after the insertion of the weather strip 45, it is impossible to
replace only the particular damaged part, and all the parts have to be
replaced. Further, the surface of the holder 44 is easily scarred and even
when a failure in bonding to the sunroof glass 41 occurs, it is impossible
to replace the particular damaged part, and all the parts have to be
replaced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a sunroof assembly for
motor vehicles wherein if some failure or damage occurs to the weather
strip or the holder, only the particular damaged part can be replaced.
According to a first embodiment, the sunroof assembly of the present
invention comprises a sunroof glass for motor vehicles, a retainer
provided below the surface of the sunroof glass, and a weather strip
connected to the retainer. The retainer has a recess part in which a
bonding agent for bonding the sunroof glass is placed, a generally
vertical stopper part provided outside of the recess part, a generally
horizontal holder part that is provided to extend outward from the upper
end of the stopper part, and projections provided on the holder part with
a prescribed interval between the projections. The weather strip is
comprised of a stopper surface for abutting on the stopper part of the
retainer, a holder groove to be fitted to the holder part, an anchor
groove formed in the holder groove for engaging with the projections, and
a lip part for holding the sunroof glass. The sunroof glass is placed in
the recess part of the retainer, then while the sunroof glass is held by
the lip part of the weather strip, the holder part of the retainer is
inserted into the holder groove, the stopper surface is abutted on the
stopper part of the retainer, and the anchor groove is engaged with the
projections, so that the sunroof glass, the retainer, and the weather
strip are connected together integrally.
According to a second embodiment, the sunroof assembly comprises a sunroof
glass for motor vehicles, a retainer provided below the surface of the
sunroof glass, and a weather strip connected to the retainer. The retainer
has a recess part in which a bonding agent for bonding the sunroof glass
is placed, a generally horizontal island provided outside of the recess,
and a generally vertical flange part provided outside of the island. The
weather strip has a positioning bottom surface for abutting on the island
of the retainer, a flange groove to be fitted to the flange part, and a
lip part for holding the sunroof glass. When the recess of the retainer is
filled with the bonding agent, the sunroof glass is placed thereon, the
island part is filled with the bonding agent, and the bottom surface of
the weather strip is abutted and bonded onto the island of the retainer,
the sunroof glass, the retainer, and the weather strip are connected
together integrally.
By the foregoing construction, when the retainer is attached to a lid
sunroof, it becomes possible to attach the weather strip at a later time
in the final step. Further, even when only the weather strip happens to
fail or become damaged, since the retainer and the weather strip are not
bonded, they can be replaced subsequently. Further, even after the lid
sunroof is attached to a motor vehicle, and when some failure occurs, the
weather strip alone can be replaced.
In the case wherein sunroof glasses have the same shape but different
curvatures, by making the absorption amount of the weather strip large,
any of the sunroof glasses having different curvatures can be used.
Further, since the scattering of the accuracy of the surface of the
sunroof glass can be absorbed, the sunroof assembly for motor vehicles
itself can be improved in quality.
Further, on account of the simple structure wherein the weather strip is
only inserted into the retainer, any bonding agent between the weather
strip and the sunroof glass can be omitted, so that the cost can be
reduced considerably. Further, by omission of the bonding agent to the
weather strip, a finishing operation for removing an excess bonding agent
is not required, and therefore such an effect can be secured that due to
the resulting reduction in the number of steps the cost can be reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross section of the sunroof assembly for motor vehicles
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross section of the sunroof assembly for motor vehicles
according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross section of the sunroof assembly for motor vehicles
according to a second embodiment of the present invention wherein the
sunroof glass, a retainer, and a weather strip are integrated;
FIG. 4 is a cross section of a conventional sunroof assembly for motor
vehicles; and
FIG. 5 is a segmentary view in perspective and partly in section of the
retainer for the sunroof assembly according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the sunroof assembly for motor vehicles
according to a first embodiment of the present invention is now described.
Reference numeral 1 indicates a transparent member, such as a sunroof
glass, of motor vehicles or the like. The sunroof glass 1 has first and
second peripheral edge portions 1a, 1b and is usually made of toughened
glass, measures approximately 42 cm long and 93 cm wide, and is placed in
the roof of motor vehicles or the like. A supporting member comprised of a
retainer 2 made of metal is disposed below the sunroof glass 1. The
retainer 2 made of metal is a little larger than the sunroof glass 1 and
is a press-molded frame about 6 cm wide. The retainer 2 is composed of a
recess part 4, defined by a pair of sidewall portions 4a, 4b and a base
portion 4c, which is filled with a bonding agent 3, a vertical flange
portion or stopper part 6 that extends generally perpendicular to the base
portion of the recess part 4, and a generally horizontal flange portion or
holder part 7 that extends outward at a right angle from the upper end of
the stopper part 6. The holder part 7 is provided with projections 8 with
a prescribed interval between them that are formed by curling. A
supporting member comprised of a weather strip 13 made of solid rubber is
fitted to the retainer 2 to hold the sunroof glass 1 at the first
peripheral edge portion 1a. The weather strip 13 has a first ridge portion
13a, a second ridge portion 13b, a stopper surface 9 abutting on the
stopper part 6 of the retainer 2, a holder groove 10 fitted to the holder
part 7 and disposed between the first and second ridge portions 13a, 13b,
a notch or anchor groove 11 that is formed in the holder groove 10 and is
engaged with the projections 8, a peripheral edge portion or lip part 12
for supporting the sunroof glass 1, and a sponge rubber part 14.
The bonding agent 3 is placed in the recess part 4 of the retainer 2 and
the sunroof glass 1 is placed thereon. While the sunroof glass 1 is held
by the lip part 12 of the weather strip 13, the holder part 7 of the
retainer 2 is inserted into the holder groove 10. Further, the stopper
surface 9 is abutted against the stopper part 6 and the anchor groove 11
is engaged with the projections 8. Thus, the sunroof glass 1, the retainer
2, and the weather strip 13 are connected together integrally.
By this construction, when the retainer is attached to a lid sunroof, it
becomes possible to attach the weather strip at a later time in the final
step. Accordingly, since the retainer and the weather strip are not
bonded, they can be replaced subsequently. Further, even after the lid
sunroof is attached to a motor vehicle, and when some failure occurs, only
the weather strip can be replaced. Further, because of the structure
wherein the weather strip is simply fitted to the retainer, any bonding
agent between the weather strip and the sunroof glass can be omitted.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the sunroof assembly for motor vehicles
according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be
described. A transparent member or sunroof glass 21 has first and second
peripheral edge portions 21a, 21b. A supporting member or retainer 22 has
a recess part 24, defined by a pair of sidewalls 24a, 24b and a base
portion 24c, in which a bonding agent 23 for bonding the sunroof glass 21
is placed. A generally horizontal island part or raised portion 25 is
formed outside of the recess part 24, a cavity or groove 26 is formed
outside of the island 25, and a flange part 27 is bent generally
perpendicularly upward from the outside of the groove 26. A supporting
member, such as a weather strip 28 made of solid rubber, is fitted to the
retainer 22 to hold the sunroof glass 21. The weather strip 28 has a
positioning bottom surface 29 abutted on the island part 25 of the
retainer 22, a flange groove 30 fitted to the flange part 27, a support
portion or lip part 31 for holding the sunroof glass 21 at the first
peripheral edge portion 21a thereof, first and second ridge portions 28a,
28b extending from the lip part 31, and a sponge part 33.
The recess part 24 and the groove 26 of the retainer 22 are filled with
bonding agents 23, 32, respectively, and the sunroof glass 21 is placed
thereon. Thereupon, while the sunroof glass 21 is held by the lip part 31
of the weather strip 28, the flange part 27 of the retainer 22 is inserted
into the flange groove 30. Further, upon abutting and bonding the bottom
surface 29 to the island part 25, the sunroof glass 21, the retainer 22,
and the weather strip 28 are connected together integrally as shown in
FIG. 3. The construction of the sunroof assembly according to the second
embodiment has an effect similar to that of the first embodiment.
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